Glenmore Co. Kilkenny
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The Phantom Coach of Glenmore: Inspiration for a Kitty the Hare Tale?
Over the years Danny Dowling recorded the sightings of various Glenmore ghosts. Ghosts of soldiers and others, haunted houses, haunted lanes and fields were commonly experienced around the parish, but there were several sightings of a more unusual apparition, a coach drawn by four big black horses, a headless coachman with two gentry ghosts in the coach. This unusual apparition became known as the Phantom Coach. The Phantom Coach was often encountered in the Carrigcloney and Kilivory areas particularly near the old Kilivory grave yard where it was often said to travel through ditches and fields following a road or lane that no longer existed. Locals believed a sighting of the Phantom Coach was a warning of a forthcoming death.
In June 1977, Nicholas Forristal (1888-1979) of the Mill, Graiguenakill, Glenmore related that Nicky Denn and Jamsey Grant “whilst driving cows on a summer evening, both saw the famous phantom coach come thundering down Ballyverneen Lane, across Main Road and cross Pill and marshes and up Carrigcloney Hill.” (Daniel Dowling, Notebook 5, p. 30).
Nicky Forristal went on to state that Nicky Denn died in the Union Hospital in New Ross in 1922/23. Nicky Denn was about 65 years of age when he died. He was born in Mullinahone, Glenmore and his father was Maurice Denn. Nicky Denn worked for about 20 years with Tommy Forristal, of Ballyverneen, Glenmore. The death registry supports that Nicky Forristal had an excellent memory. Nicholas Denn, of Ballyverneen, died on the 7th of March 1923 in the Auxiliary Hospital, New Ross at the age of 65 from pneumonia. It is recorded that he worked as a labourer. Thus Nicky Denn was born around 1858.
In the adjacent parish of Rosbercon, Thomas Victor O’Donovan Power was born in 1860. Power became a well known writer and died a decade after Nicky Denn in 1933. When Danny Dowling was a boy in the 1930’s the old people of Jamestown, Glenmore told Danny that Power would often call to various houses in Jamestown to visit and he sat with the family at their fireside where stories, particularly ghost stories, were shared. For further inspiration Power often prevailed on Jamestown locals, who played instruments, to meet him after dark in the Ballygurrim graveyard or raths. Power would stretch out on the ground and ask his Jamestown companion to play music while he encouraged ghosts or supernatural beings such as pookahs, fairies and banshees, to speak to his imagination.
Power wrote a number of supernatural short stories in serial publications like Ireland’s Own and later Our Boys. Long after his death Power’s short stories were re-printed for new generations of children. Power’s best known character was “Kitty the Hare: The Famous Travelling Woman of Ireland.” According to Stephanie Rains, of Maynooth University, (https://irishmediahistory.com/tag/kitty-the-hare/) Kitty the Hare was introduced in 1914 in Ireland’s Own and later her tales appeared in Our Boys commencing in 1924. Ireland’s Own is still being published today. Our Boys was a publication that was run by the Christian Brothers as an Irish Catholic alternative to the English Boys’ Own publication. The mission of Our Boys in the beginning was to provide acceptable role models for Irish boys to counterbalance the influence of metropolitan and the glamorisation of the British empire. Our Boys “…encapsulate[d] the spirit of pastoral romanticism which permeated the early years of the Free State. This series [Kitty the Hare] went on to become a highlight of the magazine for the next 65 years though Power died in 1929.” (Flanagan, Irish Times, 2014, available at https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/heritage/an-irishman-s-diary-on-our-boys-1.1863585 0.).
Although there is confusion concerning when Power died, T. Victor O’Donovan Power is buried in Shanbogh graveyard and his marker records his death as occurring on the 30th of December 1933. Obituaries for Power appeared in the New Ross Standard on the 5th of January 1934 noting that his father was Michael Power, and the Waterford Standard on the 6th provided the following information:
WELL-KNOWN WRITER’S DEATH. The death has occurred of Mr. T. Victor O’Donovan-Power, of Chilcomb [House], New Ross, the well-known Irish writer and play-wright. For the past 50 years he was a frequent contributor to magazines, periodicals, and the weekly Press, and he was the author of a number of books. Amongst his plays were “The Peril of Shelia” and “The Banshee’s Cry.” His writings portrayed Irish rural life in a delightfully true-to-life manner. Mr. Power was a gifted musician. He had been ill only a short time.
We will never know for certain if the Phantom Coach of Glenmore parish influenced Power, but a ghostly coach featured in a Kitty the Hare story he wrote. RTE as part of its Twenty Minute Tales series featured Kitty the Hare telling the story of the headless Aughaderry coach on Halloween in 1974. It has been digitalised, so turn down the lights and enjoy an old fashion short ghost story without special effects told by Kitty the Hare at https://www.rte.ie/archives/2019/1001/1079397-the-headless-coach-of-aughaderry/
The feature photo above are headstones in the Shanbogh graveyard taken in September 2020.
Web page update–Some headstone inscriptions from Shanbogh graveyard may be found by clicking on the Roots button on the home page.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
Mary Malone (c. 1841- ) A Poignant Letter Home to Glenmore in 1877
Last week we featured the letter written by Edmund Hartley ( 1836-1915) published in the New Ross Standard regarding his trip to Ireland in the summer of 1913. Edmund Hartley was accompanied home to Ireland by two priests, his son, Monsgr. James J. Hartley and his nephew, Father James E. Hartley. Monsgr. Hartley was the President of St. Bernard’s Seminary, Rochester, New York. Hoping that Monsgr. Hartley may have had records or photos of the trip we were disappointed to find that St. Bernard’s Seminary closed in the 1980’s. However, when we checked with the Archives of the Diocese of Rochester New York, Sister Connie Derby, Director of the Archives, located and copied a notebook kept by Monsgr. Hartley of the 1913 trip. Also found in the archive was a transcription of a letter written by a cousin of Monsgr. Hartley, Miss Mary Malone. Sister Connie also graciously forwarded good quality photos of Monsgr. and Father Hartley.
It is not known how Mary Malone’s letter came into Monsgr. Hartley’s possession and ultimately ended up in the archive. It is surmised that it was kept, hopefully cherished by her brother who received it in Glenmore in 1877, and when Monsgr. Hartley brought his father home to Glenmore in 1913 he was given the letter written 26 years earlier. The transcription with spelling errors and little punctuation is copied below as it was provided to us by Sister Connie. For such a short letter it is very poignant.
Mary Malone, Fairport, New York, to her brother, Glenmore, Co. Waterford, 24 January 1877
24 January 1877 Fearport January the 24, 1877 My Dear Brother I take the opportunity of writing to you I hope you will forgive me for not writing to you be fore this but I was tost about I left my first place that I was in 2 years and a half I am now living near my aunt I have not but 1 Dolard aweek this winter this is a verry severe winter in america. I got a letter from home about two weeks after I got yours letter they told me it was better for him to go now than any other time but he is a grate loss to my Father and mother it is they feel his loss but they tells me that they are not bad off
[page 2]
That you dont forget them may the Lord spare you your health I do not get to healp them much my wages is so little and I am not cap[a]ble of earning big wages like other girls who can cook and [do] the large washings and fine ironings I cannot do this you know I was not brought [up] to anny such thing I was sent away frum my Mother when young to the farmers to work out in the fields and I never got much in sight about house keeping or to be handy to sew but I don’t have is anny one to blame for that but my Sellf I never tried to lerren I must onely do the best I can now I am verry lonseom and down harted I wish my Sister Margaret was here if ever I can bring here out if times will get better I will try and do my best for her
[page 3]
Dear brother I would wish verry much is you would send me your picture and I will send you mine I never had anny of my pictures taken since I came to america My aunt and cussins are all well and my cussin James Hartley is getting elong splended with his studies he expe[c]ts to be dordained in about 1 year and a half from now. You asked me could I reed your writting I could with out anny troble I hope you will write to me soon again I have no more to say at preasant from your affectionate Sister Mary Malone
Unfortunately the name of Mary Malone’s brother is not revealed in the letter. The only clues are that he lived in Glenmore, she lived in Freeport, New York, she had a sister named Margaret and cousin James Hartley who was to be ordained in 1878. It appears that Mary Malone may have emmigrated about 1875 as she was in her first place for 2 ½ years. Monsgr Hartley was not ordained until 1885, but the fact that the letter ended up in his possession suggests that Mary was related although the closeness of the kinship is not apparent.
Given the fact that Mary makes no reference to a husband or children it is assumed that Mary Malone was her maiden name. The 1880 Federal Census of Rochester, Monroe County, New York reveals that there was a Mary Maloney (sic) living in a boarding house on South St. Paul Street. She was born about 1842 and worked as a servant. It is not known whether Mary Malone remained in New York or returned to Ireland. No further obvious census records were found in New York state. In Monsgr. Hartley’s travel journal one evening while in the Glenmore area the men had “supper” with Mary Malone. It is not known if the 1913 referenced Mary Malone was the same woman that wrote the letter home to Glenmore in 1877.
The Glenmore Parish records reveal that there were a number of Mary Malones born in the early 1840’s from Rochestown to Weatherstown. There is no obvious match of a Malone married to a Hartley or Kennedy (maiden name of Edmund Hartley’s mother). Also, there were much fewer baptismal records for a Margaret Malone. The best fit so far is the Michael Malone family of Weatherstown, Glenmore. Michael Malone and his wife, Catherine née Burke had a daughter Mary who was baptized on the 10th of November 1841. Their daughter Ellen was baptized on the 27th of July 1839 and their daughter Catherine was baptized on the 1st of June 1849. However, no sons were discovered in the parish records for this union.
Perhaps a reader who descends from Mary and/or Margaret Malone can point us in the right direction.
As soon as we can transcribe the travel notebook kept by Monsgr. Hartley we will publish excerpts particularly the notes from their time in Glenmore. Monsgr. Hartley throughout his journal refers to his elderly father affectionately as Pa.
Special thanks to Sister Connie for all her help this week copying and sending on information and photos. The featured image is entitled Irish Immigration from Queenstown (Cobh, Cork) (1874 from the Miram & Ira D. Wallach Collection, Digital Public Library of America
__________
Ireland is again in lock down due to COVID 19. We shall attempt to provide more posts as we did last lock down. If anyone has a subject or idea, or has an article for our guest author page please contact us at glenmore.history@gmail.com.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
More Glenmore Cemetery Fun Facts
After the first set of fun facts regarding the Glenmore Cemetery were published on 10 September, (see, https://glenmore-history.com/fun-facts-regarding-glenmore-cemetery/) Mrs. Griffin, of Indiana emailed that she is going to use the fun facts to teach percentages. Fittingly her students will be studying percentages during the week of Halloween. Mrs. Griffin asked if there were any other fun facts, and Louise Walsh put together lists of place names recorded on Glenmore cemetery headstones. These might prove more useful for geography.
This month Glenmore History volunteers added Kilbride Graveyard to the free Find-a-Grave website, added a few markers from Shanbogh Graveyard and added information regarding Kilcolumb. As time permits all information obtained from these graveyards will be added to the Glenmore-History.com webpage.
LOCAL PLACE NAMES
| Ardbeg |
| Avondale, Glenmore |
| Aylwardstown |
| Ballinclare |
| Ballincol |
| Ballinlammy |
| Ballinraha |
| Ballybrahee |
| Ballycroney |
| Ballyfacey / Ballyfasey / Ballyfacy |
| Ballyfoyle |
| Ballyhobuck |
| Ballyhomaek |
| Ballyreddy |
| Ballyveria |
| Ballyverneen |
| Ballyvoole |
| Bearstown |
| Cappagh |
| Carrigcloney |
| Clune, Glenmore |
| Coolnaleen |
| Davidstown |
| Flemingstown |
| Forristalstown |
| Gathabawn |
| Glenensaw |
| Glenmore |
| Graignakill |
| Haggard |
| Hugginstown |
| Jamestown |
| Jamestown |
| Kearney Bay |
| Kilbrahan |
| Kilbride |
| Kilcollum |
| Kilcrenagh, Davidstown |
| Kilivory |
| Kilmakevoge |
| Knockbrack |
| Milltown / Miltown |
| Moulerstown |
| Mountbellew |
| Mullinahone |
| Newtown |
| Nicholastown |
| Parkstown |
| Rahora |
| Rathenure |
| Rathinure |
| Rickersland |
| Rickersland South |
| Robinstown |
| Rochestown |
| Scartnamore |
| Shambo |
| Shanbough |
| Weatherstown |
| PLACES A LITTLE FURTHER AWAY Aglish, Carrigeen |
| Ballinlaw, Slieverue |
| Ballybaring, Slieverue |
| Hoodsgrove, Rosbercon |
| Rosbeacon |
| Rosbercon |
| New Ross |
| Fethard-on-Sea, New Ross |
| The Quay, New Ross |
| Slievecorig |
| Listrollin Mullinavat |
| Mullinavat |
| Blossom Hill, Kilmacow |
| Fahee, Kilmacow |
| Glynnballyvalley, Tullogher |
| Tullogher |
| Glynnballyvalley, Tullogher |
| Tullogher |
| Ballylogue, The Rower |
| Grange, The Rower |
| Bennettsbridge |
| Inistogue |
| Kileen, Inistioge |
| Kilcurl, Knocktopher |
| Ballyhenebry, Piltown |
| Kilmeaden |
| Passage East, Co. Waterford |
| Waterford |
| Macroom, Co. Cork |
| Moorstown, Cahir Co. Tipperary |
| Laneborough, Co. Longford |
| Scarriff, Co. Clare |
| Dublin |
| Sutton, Dublin |
| RECORDED ADDRESSES IN WATERFORD CITY |
| Thomas St. |
| The Glen |
| Summerville Ave. |
| St. Alphonsus’ Rd. |
| Morrison’s Ave. |
| Manor Lawn |
| Manor St. |
| Glen Tce |
| Ferndale |
| Bridge St. |
| Blackfriars |
| Barrack St. |
| Ballybricken |
| Griffith Place |
| Morgan St. |
| Gracedieu Rd. |
| Presentation Row |
| Upper Yellow Road |
| Costello’s Lane |
| Waterford City |
| Recorded Places Outside of Ireland: |
| America |
| USA |
| N.Y.C. |
| Boston, Mass. |
| Chicago, USA |
| Payette, Idaho USA |
| Santa Barbara, California |
| Chessington, Surrey |
| Birmingham |
| Kentish Town, London |
| London |
| Maidenhead, Berkshire England |
| Manchester |
| Southport |
| Australia |
| Kiama, Sydney |
| Melbourne, Australia |
| Sydney |
| NSW, Australia |
| Wellington, New Zealand |
| India |
| Toronto |
| RECORDED PLACES OF INTERRMENT–this is where a person’s name is recorded on a Glenmore headstone, but it is noted that the person is buried elsewhere. |
| Ballykeeffe cemetary |
| Burma–see, Father Thomas Walsh (1911-1945) posted 27 July 2020 at https://glenmore-history.com/an-unusual-glenmore-memorial-fr-thomas-walsh-1911-1945/ |
| Cork |
| England |
| Faithlegge, Co. Waterford |
| Manchester |
| Rosbercon cemetary |
| Agen, France |
| California |
The Tenacious Glenmore 1915 Football Team: Co. Kilkenny Senior Football Champions
According to the Gerry O’Neill’s Kilkenny GAA Bible (2014, pp. 60-61) http://www.kilkennygaa.ie/Downloads/KK_GAA_BIBLE_2014.pdf Glenmore between 1900 and 1950 won the Ned Langton Cup (county senior football championship) 15 times. Previously we posted information and a photo of the 1906 Glenmore football team that won the senior football championship (available at https://glenmore-history.com/the-glenmore-football-club-the-trials-and-tragedy-of-the-1906-county-kilkenny-gaelic-football-champions/). Today, we are going to highlight the 1915 Glenmore football team that also took the county championship. Although there were several years where no Co. Kilkenny senior football championship was held the senior football championship of 1915 (played in 1916) is unique. This is the only year where the two semi-finalist teams played four championship games because the first three games all resulted in ties.
Interestingly some of the 1915 County Kilkenny senior football matches were played outside of Kilkenny. For example, in February 1916, Glenmore played Tullogher in Barrett’s Park, New Ross in a semi-final match. The New Ross Standard (Fri. 18 Feb. 1916) reported “an enormous amount of interest was centred in the match, and crowds of the followers of both teams came to Ross on bicycles, cars and walking.” Although it was reported that there was a rumour that the game was likely to be rough, it was not. A very large crowd of spectators attended the match and cheered the players. Tullogher had the best of the play for the greater part of the first half hour, as they kept the ball in Glenmore territory. However, they failed to score and Glenmore notched a point. During the second half Glenmore dominated and won the match with a score of 1 goal, 2 points to Tullogher’s 1 point. It was reported that both teams missed several scoring opportunities, but the play was good and “well sustained from start to finish.” Gus Kennedy, of New Ross was the referee. By winning Glenmore qualified for the final against Coolagh.
The Co. Kilkenny GAA Annual Convention was held in April 1916. John Dunphy, Glenmore the outgoing Chairman presided. The delegates from Glenmore were M. Heffernan and P. Hanrahan of the Glenmore Hurling Club. At this meeting it was proposed by Glenmore that county championships for hurling and football should continue on the League system. This was agreed. Also during the Convention, Coolagh Football Club were declared champions for the 1914 senior football championship, as “the other matches to be played having been cancelled” (Kilkenny Moderator, Sat. 17 April 1916). Although the Easter Rising did not take place until the 24th of April the tension between the British authorities and the GAA was noted by the delegates. The British Government was attempting to levy an “entertainment” tax on matches; seeking the GAA pay income tax; agreeing not to interfere with Gaelic sports so long as the gatherings were not political and generally were according to P. Hanahan trying to break the GAA.
On the 19th of March 1916 the reigning senior champions Coolagh were to play Coolroe at St. James’ Park with Glenmore’s M. Heffernan as referee in the second football semi-final. The winner of this semi-final match was to play Glenmore at St. James’ Park on the 2nd of April with John Lalor as referee (Kilkenny Moderator, Sat. 11 March 1916). Coolagh won this semi-final. Due to a number of factors the final match between Coolagh and Glenmore was not played on the 2nd of April.
The senior football final between Glenmore and Coolagh was “re-fixed” for Sunday the 7th of May 1916 at St. James’ Park with referee D. Kennedy. Glenmore and Coolagh tied (Glenmore 1-1; Coolagh 1-1). The New Ross Standard (Friday 14 July 1916) reported that the replay between Glenmore and Coolagh was being “awaited with considerable interest.” Spectators had been buoyed by the unexpected display made by Glenmore during the first championship game when they nearly beat the county champions. “Coolagh can be relied upon to leave nothing to chance too, and when both teams meet there is sure to be a rattling good contest.”
The second championship match between Glenmore and Coolagh was held on Sunday the 16th of July 1916 at St. James’ Park, Kilkenny. “After a most exciting struggle both teams played a drawn game, with each team scoring a single goal. Although the first half of the game was “full of exciting passages” no scores were made. In the second half both teams scored a single goal each. “The general opinion on the match was that Glenmore should have won.” The referee was Mike Byrne of Coolroe Football Club (New Ross Standard, Fri. 21 July 1916).
The third championship match between Glenmore and Coolagh was held on Sunday the 20th of August 1916 at the sports field in Waterford. “After a very closely contested game a draw was the result. A regrettable incident occurred in the first half hour, when a few of the players came to blows. However, the affair quietened down and the match was proceeded with. Mr. Walsh, Waterford, proved a capable referee” (New Ross Standard, Fri. 25 Aug. 1916).
Notwithstanding the statements that the GAA was not political in any manner, shortly before the fourth championship match the Carrickshock Monument committee, applied for the proceeds of the match (Munster Express, Sat. 26 Aug. 1916). See, generally, Glenmore and the Tithe Tax, available at https://glenmore-history.com/glenmore-and-the-tithe-tax/. It is not known whether the Monument Committee received the proceeds, but a monument was erected in 1925.
On Saturday the 18th of October 1916 a very detailed article in “The Whip’s” sporting column of the Kilkenny People covered the fourth championship match between Glenmore and Coolagh. Unfortunately, the author in what might best be described as a “prissy” tone spent a substantial amount of the article exerting his views on punctuality, the weather, and the roughness of the game without actually explaining what happened. It was noted that Glenmore had a “submarine” that torpedoed 6 or 7 Coolagh players, but the name of the Glenmore player was never revealed. The author also noted that the guardians of the law had taken an interest in us of late, “I should, imagine they would find a more profitable (if a little more dangerous) work to do in Flanders. But this ‘small nationality’ is now ruled by a Coercion Government and martial law still prevails…” Excerpts from the article follow.
“MARGIN OF ONLY ONE POINT. A HARD GAME. The senior football final has been finished at last, and Glenmore have won. They got the verdict by the narrowest possible, margin—one point. It took over four hours’ play in the aggregate to decide the tie and of the four matches, three were played in Kilkenny and one in Waterford. Coolagh put up a very good fight, but they were not able for the Glenmore lads on Sunday’s play. The match is now finished, and the series of games played should have a very good effect on football in the county. For a few years past the football championship has been decided on the League system, and this of course necessitated all teams entered playing a number of matches. Under the old order a team, once it, was beaten: in the first round, had perforce to wait until the following season before they could play another official match…”
ABOUT THE GAME.
A most strenuously contested game it was every, inch of the way being fought with a dogged tenacity. The element of roughness was, however, too conspicuous, and scientific football was all too rare. ..From start to finish … it was veritably a case of the survival of the fittest, and it surprised how any man could stand such an hour… On the play Glenmore were the better of the two, and for the greater part of the second half Coolagh were always on the defensive. The backs put up a very stubborn resistance and never allowed the Glenmore men to score. A few dashes to the other end were made by Coolagh, but the finishing power was not there, and, the backs always came out on top. The same teams, it is interesting to note, will meet again in the first round of the coming Championship. Mr. John Lalor, Secretary of the County Board, refereed, and he performed a difficult task very well.
THE TEAMS.
Glenmore—James Murphy, E. Roche, J Roche, T. Doherty, P. Fitzgerald, P. Forristal, M. Connolly, John Phelan, James Phelan, M. Murphy, E. McDonald, W. Walsh. P. Foran, W. Hartley, Thomas Forristal.
Coolagh—W. (Saunders (captain), J. McKenna, W. Fitzgerald, J. Fitzgerald, M. Fitzgerald, Matt Fitzgerald, M. Hoyne, L. Murphy, E. O’Neill, T. Somers, J. Somers, James Leahy, J. Leahy, P. Murray, and M. Moore.
FIRST HALF.
Coolagh got away from the throw in, per Murphy, but the Glenmore backs returned and immediately the southern forward made tracks for the Coolagh posts. From a good kick by Johnnie Phelan an exciting scrimmage took place opposite the Coolagh sticks, and a grand shot by Doherty was only saved at the expense of a “fifty.” Another interest tangle followed, but nothing came of it, and Doherty, got a chance immediately after but sent it wide. Jim Phelan-both himself and his brother played a faultless game—returned the delivery, and another most exciting struggle took place in Coolagh territory. The later’s citadel was in jeopardy and a score seemed imminent, but the defence prevailed, and in a twinkling play was at the other end, thanks to some excellent play by Saunders who did a wonderful amount of work.
They were pressing pretty strongly, and a free to them put them in a very good position to score. Saunders was entrusted with the kick, and he made no mistake in opening Coolagh’s scoring account with a point. Johnnie Phelan and Saunders were most conspicuous in the following exchanges, honours as superiority being about equally divided. A lift off the ground by Phelan gave Coolagh another free, and Saunders centred beautifully. Leahy got possession, and with a very fine effort scored Coolagh’s second point. Saunder’s was again “in the picture” following the delivery, and Doherty then got away on his own, but a free to Coolagh brought relief, and a bad miss by one of the Glenmore half-backs let Coolagh into possession and a bombardment of the Glenmore posts followed. Nothing came of the opportunity thanks to the good defence of the backs.
The game was now very rough and the order apparently was to watch the man and not the ball. Saunders getting the ball after that delivery was tackled by Johnnie Phelan and badly heaved, but he was up in a twinkling; and though challenged by three of his opponents he got through and played the ball. Following this O’Neill sent it wide for Coolagh. Following the kickout Glenmore invaded, per Johnnie Phelan and a free was sent to the right wing.
Here Doherty got possession and with a grand shot landed the ball in the net to the accompaniment of loud cheers. Another attack followed, and a Coolagh. man (Fitzgerald) got hurt and had to retire, his place being taken by Vaughan. Glenmore kept up the pressure and forced a ” fifty,” which was well centred by Doherty, but the backs saved and Saunders, who was exceptionally well watched, was fouled, and the free put Coolagh attacking. Another Coolagh man got hurt but resumed after a short interval, and Glenmore again took up the offensive but a penalty spoiled the chance. Murphy got away on his own after the free kick, and an over by O’Neill followed. Yet another Coolagh man was rendered hors-de-combat but he also- resumed, and Coolagh were-pressing when the half-time whistle went, leaving the scores: Glenmore 1 goal; Coolagh 2 points.
A SCORELESS HALF.
The second and final half of the game opened very roughly. Glenmore, with the aid-of the wind, pressed strongly, and McKenna got knocked out. After some minutes he resumed, and following another over by Glenmore another Coolagh man got injured and had to retire; his place being taken by Peters. This gave rise to a protracted dispute,’ and matters looked dangerous. A bad row was only averted by the efforts of some of the Coolagh men. As usual the spectators went in to investigate, and some of the partisans did not help to throw oil on the troubled waters. After a long delay the teams were got together again, and frees went to both sides in rapid succession.
It was now veritably a case of rough-and-tumble and football in its true meaning was a premium. McDonald who was twice hurt, got a kick in the arm but still kept on, and Glenmore, forcing matters was awarded a “fifty” off a good shot by Doherty. Saunders blocked the kick and the ball was sent wide. Another series of frees followed to both sides and in a struggle Murphy (Coolagh) and, Connolly (Glenmore) both got knocked out. There was another delay, and on resuming Forristal met the delivery as the ball was touching the ground and sent dead for the net, but the goalkeeper saved well and sent out. A few incursions were made by Coolagh, but they always lacked finish and for the most part were on the defensive. Neither side registered in the second half, and the long whistle went leaving Glenmore winners after a total of over four hours’, play. The long score was—Glenmore 1 goal (3 points); Coolagh 2 points (2 points).”
| First Half | ||||
| Team | Overs | Frees | 50’s | Scores |
| Glenmore | 5 | 2 | 3 | 1-0 |
| Coolagh | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0-2 |
| Second Half | ||||
| Glenmore | 6 | 3 | 1 | -o- |
| Coolagh | 0 | 6 | 0 | -0- |
| TOTALS | ||||
| Glenmore | 11 | 5 | 4 | 1-0 |
| Coolagh | 6 | 11 | 1 | 0-2 |
Lastly, Coolagh sent in an objection stating that the Glenmore football team was illegally constituted. However, the players from Mullinavat had early in the season been granted permission by the County Committee to play with Glenmore. At the December 1916 GAA Kilkenny meeting no representative of the Coolagh team appeared and the championship was awarded to Glenmore (Kilkenny People, Sat. 16 December 1916).
The featured photo of the Glenmore 1915 County Kilkenny Champion Senior Football Team is from the Poole Collection of the National Archives of Ireland and published here with its kind permission.
Identification of players in photo is from a 1982 newspaper article in the Kilkenny People marking the death of Peter Forristal the last surviving member of the team.
Back Row: John Phelan, of Clonessy, Mullinavat; Wattie Walsh, of Rochestown, Glenmore; Pat Foran, of Rochestown, Glenmore; Jim Phelan, of Clonessy, Mullinavat
Second Row: Paul Fitzgerald, of Knockbrach, Glenmore; William Hartley, of Busherstown, Glenmore; Richard McDonald, of Ballynooney, Mullinavat; James Murphy, of Ballinlammy, Glenmore (goalie); Tommy Forristal, Rochestown, Glenmore.
Front Row: James Roche, Rathinure, Glenmore; Peter Forristal, Rochestown, Glenmore; Jack Doherty, Davidstown, Glenmore (Captain); Ned Roche, Rathinure, Glenmore; Phil Connolly, Rochestown, Glenmore.
Sitting: Maurice Murphy, Buckstown, Mullinavat & Michael Connolly, of Rochestown, Glenmore.
Club Officials: Maher (on left) and Dunphy (on right).
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
The Prosecution of Glenmore Wedding Guests in 1917
On the 1st of November 1917 the provisions of the Motor Restriction Order came into effect. Britain was engaged in the First World War and the Easter Rising of 1916 was still fresh in the minds of authorities. Twenty-seven days later three persons who drove to a Glenmore wedding were arrested and tried for breaching the Motor Restriction Order of 1917. It is doubtful that when the bride and groom were preparing for their wedding that they had any idea that their wedding would make the news in such a fashion.
Although it was stated in the Order that there was a “need for economy in the use of petrol,” the debates in the House of Commons 7 months earlier, on the 24th of April 1917, revealed that the MP’s were concerned about the number of convictions for driving at excessive speed against drivers going and coming from race meetings. It was noted that a feeling existed in the country against the use of motor cars for purely pleasure purposes at a time of national crisis. The Home Secretary was asked to take immediate steps to prohibit the supply of petrol to owners of motor cars using them for purely pleasure purposes. The Home Secretary responded that the Petrol Control Committee had already ceased issuing licenses for the supply of petrol to private cars not being used for purpose of “national importance.” (HC Deb, 24 April 1917, vol. 92, c. 2223)
The Motor Restriction Order 1917 provided that no petrol or petrol substitute could be used for the purpose of driving any motor vehicle or motor boat except as authorised in the Order within the terms of a motor spirit license issued by the Petrol Control Department of the Board of Trade. Allowed uses included: the conveyance of a person or goods to or from the nearest railway where no other means of conveyance was reasonably available: for the purpose of a profession, trade or business; for necessary household affairs; funerals; and life saving purposes etc.
On the 28th of November 1917 Glenmore Parish Priest, Father Holohan, married Mary Hynes, of Aylwardstown, Glenmore and Edward Whyte, a farmer from Coolnamuck, Inistioge. The best man at the wedding was Thomas Flood and the bridesmaid was Bridget Dreehan. The bride was the daughter of Aylwardstown farmer, Martin Hynes and his wife Anastasia Hynes née Aylward. The bride was born on the 15th of January 1887. The bridegroom was Edward Whyte the son of Thomas Whyte and his wife Catherine Whyte née Meany. The bridegroom was born the 28th of November 1884.
The New Ross Standard reported on Friday the 14th of December 1917 that at the New Ross Petty Sessions three wedding guests were prosecuted for having motor cars at the Whyte-Hynes wedding in Glenmore. The magistrates hearing the cases were Captain D.G. Howlett (presiding) and Arthur J. Doyle and Pat Bolger. The defendants were Joseph Lynch a veterinary surgeon from New Ross, P. A. Jeffares, New Ross, motor and engineering company, Peter Gahan, of Priory-street, of New Ross. All three defendants were represented by Solicitor J.R. Colfer.
Head Constable O’Connell, of Thomastown, prosecuted the cases and Constable Healey, of Glenmore was the arresting officer. Constable Healey testified that on the 28th of November he was on duty at Graiguenakill, Glenmore when he saw Joseph Lynch driving a wedding party from Glenmore Village to Aylwardstown, a distance of about two miles. In Lynch’s car was the bride, bridegroom, best man and bridesmaid. Afterwards he saw Lynch with the car at the house of the bride’s father, Martin Hynes, in Aylwardstown. Constable Healey told Lynch that he had committed an offence. Lynch replied that he was not aware that he had committed an offence. Constable Healey asked for Lynch’s petrol license which Lynch admitted he forgot in another coat. Head Constable O’Connell conceded that prior to the court date Lynch had produced the petrol license. After a lengthy argument concerning the summons being faulty Head Constable O’Connell clarified that the offence was for the defendant “using motor spirit” and asked the magistrates to “inflict a substantial penalty.”
Solicitor Colfer then began a spirited defence arguing that there was no offence. Lynch was a friend of both parties and was an ordinary guest at the wedding. The wedding party hired two motor cars for the wedding, but when they came out of the Glenmore church the hired drivers were not there. The wedding party was standing in front of the church “surrounded by a crowd of beggars wanting gratuities, and the position of the bride and bridegroom and their friends was awkward with this crowd around them.”
Danny Dowling during an interview of Mrs. Alice Power née Curran, of Jamestown, Glenmore recorded the local practice of the “Cee Caw.” School children and beggars would congregate at the Glenmore Church gates at weddings because money would be thrown into the air. When the money was fired into the air it often resulted in abuse and fisticuffs as all the assembled would scramble after the money. This practice continued in Glenmore until the early 1950’s. A review of the Glenmore parish register revealed that there was another wedding held earlier on the 28th of November 1917. John Connolly, a laborer from Rochestown, Glenmore married Bridget Roche of Scartnamore, Glenmore. Thus with two weddings on the same day it is likely there was a large group assembled for the Cee Caw when the Whyte-Hynes wedding party emerged from the church.
Lynch volunteered to drive the wedding party to the Hynes’s home. Solicitor Colfer argued that any reasonable person would have done so including the magistrates. Solicitor Colfer also pointed out that the Order only came out in October, and “a person would want to carry around with him in his car a regular lawyer’s library to try to comply with the regulations.” “Surely the fact of a man taking to himself a wife might reasonably be looked upon as something done in connection with household affairs.”
Solicitor Colfer then drew the magistrates’ attention to a paragraph in the Irish Times on the previous day. The Athlone magistrates had a similar case where a person was charged with violating the Order when he attended a wedding. The Athlone magistrates dismissed the case. Solicitor Colfer also noted a similar case in Bray which also resulted in the magistrates dismissing the case. “In those cases the magistrates had shown common sense in refusing to convict, and refusing to be gulled into turning people into criminals for a breach of those stupid and ill promulgated orders.” With the decisions of two other courts before the New Ross magistrates, he asked the magistrates to exercise common sense and put a reasonable construction on the case. Solicitor Colfer concluded that it would be a disgrace to convict his client, and “under the circumstances of the case the magistrates would be failing in their duty if they did not mark their disapproval of such proceedings by dismissing the case.”
Head Constable O’Connell was not deterred and argued that he had authority that attending a wedding is not a necessary household affair, but upon Solicitor Colfer demanding the legal authority it was not produced. One of the magistrates pointed out to the Head Constable that the Order allowed persons to use petrol to attend funerals. Ultimately the Chairman announced that the case against Defendant Lynch was dismissed on the summons. The Head Constable not taking the hint replied that he would bring the case again on a new summons within a fortnight.
The other cases arising from the same wedding were called and the Chairman said he thought that the best thing to do was to dismiss the other cases. Head Constable O’Connell demanded to know on what grounds the magistrates were dismissing without hearing any evidence. The Chairman replied that the summonses were wrongly stated. The Head Constable O’Connell requested the magistrates to state a case. Solicitor Colfer interjected, “This thing is becoming absurd. You would really think those men were being tried for their lives.”
The Head Constable called Constable Collins, of Glenmore, who testified he was on duty at Graiguenakill on the 28th of November and saw a motor car belonging to the New Ross Motor and Engineering Co., containing 5 ladies driven by the driver. They went in the direction of where the wedding was held. Constable Healy was recalled and gave evidence that on the same date he saw a motor belonging to the New Ross Engineering Co. containing Messrs. John Flood, The Rower; John Hynes, Aylwardstown; Richard Hanrahan, New Ross; and John Meaney, Inistioge. He afterwards saw the car at Mr. Hynes’ house. The explanation the defendants gave was that they didn’t know they were committing an offence. Mr. Colfer said he had very little to say in those eases beyond what he had said in the case of Mr. Lynch. He stated that it was really absurd to accuse people of criminally breaking a law of which they had no knowledge “and it would be a monstrous thing to inflict fines in such cases.”
The Chairman announced that the bench had decided to dismiss the cases. Head Constable asked on what grounds the cases were being dismissed and asked the court to state a case. The magistrates refused to state a case. Undeterred Head Constable O’Connell queried the grounds on which the magistrates refused to state a case. Mr. Bolger, J.P. interjected and reminded the Head Constable that it was not necessary for the magistrates to state their reasons for dismissing the cases. According to the newspaper article the magistrates then dismissed the cases “on the merits” rather than on a defect in the summons, and thereby ensured that the defendants could not be subject to another prosecution from the zealous Head Constable arising from having motor cars at the Whyte-Hynes wedding.
A quick review of newspapers in Britain revealed that in 1917 most of the arrests under the Order reported in the newspapers were for people driving to racing events.
The Irish Petty Sessions Court drawing (c) Illustrated News (1853).
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
A Glenmore Version of the Ballad of Carrickshock [updated]
As outlined in our last post, concerning the tithe tax and tithe war of the 1830’s, a ballad was penned and sung in Glenmore concerning Carrickshock. On the 25th of February 1970, Danny Dowling recorded the Ballad of Carrickshock as told to him by Nicholas Forristal (1888-1979), of the Mill, Griaguenakill, Glenmore. In 1970, Nicky Forristal was 82 years of age and the subject of the ballot had occurred almost 140 years previously. Nicky’s father, Patrick Forristal (1849-1931) was born 18 years after Carrickshock and died on the Carrickshock centenary in 1931. Thus, Carrickshock took place during the lifetime of Nicky Forristal’s grandfather. Thanks to Danny’s work 50 years ago we have a version of the Ballad of Carrickshock that was sung in Glenmore.
According to an online exhibit in the National Archives entitled “Singing Sedition: Ballads and Verse in the Age of O’Connell” ballads are particularly important as a reflection of the interests and opinions of ordinary people of nineteenth century Ireland.
“Arising out of unofficial channels ballad sheets express the opinion and sentiment of the ordinary people of nineteenth century Ireland, often revealing their private attitudes to the great questions of society, politics and religion. As a medium of communication from an otherwise unrepresented class, such verses and songs provide a critical counterbalance to the views of the landed elite. … Certain types of ballads may not be readily accessible to the modern reader, since they can contain cryptic references to local persons or events.”
“Singing Sedition: Ballads and Verse in the Age of O’Connell” is available at https://www.nationalarchives.ie/article/singing-sedition-ballads-verse-age-oconnell.
Within the exhibit is a copy of a ballad entitled “The Downfall of the Tithes,” this ballad makes reference to Carrickshock, and is available at https://www.nationalarchives.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/CSORP_OR_1832_2928_0001.jpg .
Below is a transcription of the Carrickshock Ballad recorded by Danny in 1970.
Ballad of Carrickshock (Sang in Glenmore)
Those valiant sons of the Irish Nation, Where is the country that can boast of more? Through extensive Europe they gained rank and stature, And for their loyalty great credit bore. May Britain boast of their fame and glory, Auld Scotsman too, King William’s name, But Irish valour won’t lie from story, While lives a bard to record their fame. T’was a December on a Wednesday morning, Strange rumours circled our country round, And it was confirmed by chief ??? Warning to force the tithes or our cattle pound. Our chapel bells they were kept sounding, The people hearing in great number clocked, Our ??? and ditches with all speed bounding, To meet the peelers in Carrickshock. They hired Bert Butler to serve citations, To force the peasant from home or tithes, To feed the gluttons of the reformation, Whom honest Catholics always deride. The first to start was courageous Power, He beat(?) Butler with manly skill, Saying rally boys for the very hour, Well pay no tithes but those traitors kill. And chief Gibbins saw that his dog lay sprawl, And to his forces did loudly call, Saying prime and load boys it is appalling, And he shot brave Power with a pistol ball. And then commences the bloody slaughter, For 15 minutes we had but fun, With pikes and scythes we gave them no quarter, We stood our ranks without fife or drum. But 26 and their chief commander, Was left them lifeless without a groan, And not to conquer like Alexander, We left 3 survivors to bring them home. Sergeant Wylie that orange traitor, That day he ran with great force and speed, Tis well he knew if he was overtaken, His body like the rest would be left to bleed. If you were to see them of the after ??? Like pigs or ??? they were drown, Along to standing ??? in Reid’s barn. In Kilmaganny they all did say, May providence crown you Tracy and Whelan, Who fell Tithe victim upon that day, They stood the brunt without courage failing, And fought courageously in that bloody fray. Now my song is ending and all is over, Come fill your Bumfords and drink brown ale, And where you’ll meet them in rapture, Greet them the jovial champions of Ballyhale.
Gary Owen, “The Carrickshock Incident, 1831: Social Memory and Irish Cause Célebre,” 1(1) Culture and Social History (2004) pp 36-64 available at http://www.traceyclann.com/files/carrickshock.pdf
The National Archives also has the correspondence of the Chief Secretary’s Office concerning the “Carrickshock murders” including costs of burials of constables, doctor bills for the treatment of injured constables, the efforts to arrest, and the efforts of two Catholic clergy in raising funds to hire Daniel O’Connell to defend those accused of murder etc. [CSO/PR/OR/1831/1328 et seq]
Update 2 Feb. 2021–while going through the Munster Express newspaper of 27 Dec. 1946 the following poem or ballad concerning Carrickshock was discovered. It appears to have been penned in the 1930’s.
Update: 24 Dec. 2022–
Munster Express (Sat. 11 Nov. 1922, p. 6)–Death of Mr. James Treacy, Ballymagill—it is with much regret we have to record the death of M. James Treacy, who passed away on Friday, 3rd inst. The deceased was one of the famous Carrickshock Treacy’s. The interment took place at Kilcurl. We tender our sympathy to his relatives in their bereavement.
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh